Too Late
Story by Daisy

~~*Chapter Two*~~

          “Nick! Don’t say things like that!” AJ listened as Autumn squealed and giggled flirtatiously. He rolled his eyes and turned up the volume to the TV. Then he thought better of it. He muted it.

          Autumn giggled again. “I’d love to.” She was smiling broadly. “Okay…see you then.” She hung up AJ’s phone and turned to him, smiling widely.

          “What?”

          “I’ve got a date tonight!” Autumn jumped off the couch and grabbed her purse from the chair. “I’m gonna go get ready!” AJ grabbed her hand as she walked past him in his recliner.

          “Where are you going?”

          “To the movies…with Nick.” She giggled again.

          “So you do like him!” AJ teased, still holding her hand.

          “Leave me alone.” She cried defensively, trying unsuccessfully to wipe the smile off her face.

          “No, it’s fine! If this thing works out with you two, I’ll win the bet!” AJ released Autumn’s hand and threw his arms behind his head.

          “AJ, what if in the next thirty days, you find the woman of your dreams…the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with.” She sat down on the arm of AJ’s chair and looked deeply into his eyes.

          “I won’t.”

          “How do you know that? You could bump into her at the mall or the movies or…AJ is this all just a game to you?”

          “Is what all a game?” He asked, confused.

          “Love.” She whispered the word. “Is it all a game to you?”

          “This is different. This is a bet.” Autumn shook her head at his answer and turned towards the door, mumbling a goodbye before she left.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

          “I had a great time, Nick.” Autumn leaned against her door and stood looking at Nick. He looked great in khaki pants and a green shirt.

          “Are you free tomorrow night?” Nick asked. Autumn smiled and nodded. “Would you like to go out again?” She nodded again. “Alright then. We’ll go somewhere fun.”

          There was a slight pause in the conversation. Nick shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, then leaned into Autumn’s mouth decisively. The kiss only lasted a few moments, but it was perfect in every way.

          “Good night,” Autumn whispered, closing the door behind her. As soon as she set her purse on the chair, the phone rang. “Hello?”

          “So? How was it?” AJ’s voice came excitedly over the line.

          “It was great!” Autumn sank into the recliner, smiling in the empty room.

          “So, give me all the details.” AJ leaned back in his chair, turning on the captioning to the TV. He filled his mouth with peanuts and waited for Autumn’s response.

          “Well, we went out to eat and then we went…”

          “Where did you eat?” AJ interrupted.

          “La Madeline. Anyway, after we ate, we took a walk in the park and just talked.”

          “Sounds like you had a good time.” AJ put down the peanuts. Suddenly he wasn’t hungry.

          “I had a great time! And we’re going out tomorrow night too!”

          “Oh.” AJ couldn’t hide the hurt in his voice. What’s going on with me? I’ve seen Autumn date other guys before! Besides, she’s just my friend. AJ thought.

          “Oh AJ, I never thought that he could be like he was tonight. He does everything so perfect. He’s so…sweet.” Her voice was dreamy and AJ felt a pang inside his chest and knew immediately what bothered him about what she was saying. She’s never dated one of my friends before. He thought, Nick’s face flashing in his mind. It’s just all hitting too close to home.

          “I better go, I have to work early tomorrow.”

          “Autumn, you don’t have a job.” AJ reminded her.

          “I know, but I needed some excuse to get off the phone. I think I’m gonna go to sleep so I can dream about Nick.”

          “Ugh, that’s really weird.” AJ grabbed his stomach in an attempt to stop the churning. “Then I’ll let you go. Bye.”

          “Bye, AJ.” He listened to the click of her phone before hanging up. He looked back up to the TV, but his eyes were averted to the pictures on top of the TV stand. He stared long minutes at a picture of him and Autumn together at Christmas last year. He had his arm wrapped around her and she had both of hers wrapped around his waist. He remembered the moment clearly. Just after the picture was taken, Autumn grabbed a piece of apple pie that had been sitting on a table behind her and smashed it in AJ’s hair. They had fun that Christmas. AJ smiled at the memories. Then slowly, his smile faded into the darkness.

          I’m in love with my best friend, he thought. And I can’t even make a move on her.

Chapter Three
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